The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-08-26

tine burDafldH, Woulu Ue pIcsetlleu
that night, with the great London
tragedian. Mr.. Templemore in the
title role, while the beautiful and ac-
complished Miss Gertrude Devereaux
would assume the part of Parthenia.
That night Mr.. Rawlinson, contrary
to all my experience OF him, was rest
less and uneasy. If l was supersti-
tions, l would say with him, com
ing events cast their shadows before"
Surprising that he wished my COM
pany no more than he aver had at
the close OF the day, l was about to
withdraw from the hotel, when he
asked me. with chasteristic abrupt
ness, Where are you going?"
"Merely to walk about town"
"Tll go with you"
As we went along the streets he
made an effort to talk, but ! could
see that it was only his uneasy frame
of mind breaking through his usual
abstraction. We passed a crowd in
font OF a great board building, where
faring colored lights illuminated the
posters of ~"Ingomar."
"What's this?" he asked.
ga play" l replied.
"Theater?-yes, l used to go often.
l havn't seen q play for many years.
Let's 60 up"
you'll hardly see anything in there
to please you," ! demurred.
mo matter ! feel like most any
thing for diversion"
We paid our 25 cents respectively,
and assembled the dirty stairs.
We entered a hall furnished with
wooden benches, where 800
people, seven.eighth OF them
men, were seated on the same level,
smoking, talking and Chatting the
performers. On u scantily furnished
stage a loud-mouth, brawling lingo.
mar was holding forth to the captive
Myron and the outlaws about him.
Mr.. Rawlinson and obtained seats
with some difficulty. He glanced Mt
the stage and the audience, and then
became absorbed in his thoughts.
Not anticipating the slightest pleas
ure from the performance, Icontinued
to look idly at Ingomar, and was not
long in detecting IN his voice that
peculiar horseness that results from
indulgence in spirits.
Presently Parthenia appeared.
To the crowd around us all acting
was the same; and ] certainly vas
not impressed with the lady's power
as an actress. Her lines were
delivered coldly aud correctly.
There was not the slightes feeling
manifested in any thing she uttered.
But she had one quality that impress
ed me at once; she had the true stage
presence. She was tall and shapely,
though rather thin, and neither paint
nor powder could hide the fact that
she was still beautiful. The rude all
dience were impressed just rs l was
and respectfully refrained from any
"guying' OF the lady.
AS the play proceeded became
aware thatmy companion was becom
ing deeply interested in it. He BEN
forward and kept his eyes fixed on the
stage. Once or twice ] whispered tc
him, but he made no reply. From
this time his attention e tlagget
till the curtain was finally
rung down. Then, amid tn,
bosterous stamping, clapping and I'M
earthly cat-calls that summoned TIN
Barbarian and his BRIDE before tn,
curtain, Mr.. Rawlinson shouted il
my ear:
"Where dc these actors stay?"
cat the Windsor, | believe"
"Come and show me-"
The exit to the street was marrow
and unlighted, SO that the performer
had reached their quarters by tn
back passage some time before W
could get there. Mr.. Rawlinsor call
ed for tine manager OF the troupe, an,
. a gross-looklng mar i'll velveteen wit
q profusion OF jewelry, came to tn
sitting room.
81 have business with your leadin
lady-Miss Devereaux," said Mr.. Raw
linson, quietly, referring to the play
bill. Can l see herr"
The manager was plainly no gentle
Q man himself. but he knew II whe
ne saw him. Something in the ma
ner of the other impressed hum.
l "That's Ned Blake's wife" he snid
"trhe fact is," and the manage
1 laughed, Ned Is as q jealous foo
$ and makes all kind OF rows in tn
n company. I'll speak to him.
Three minutes after the Ingomar {
e half an hour before entered. The il
terval between the stage and real or
had been n brief one; but not too brit
a to allow Mr.. Blake to becomedecidet
t ly drunk. His eyes were bloodsho'
his tongue thick, his gait uncertain.
II "Wha-a you want O. my wife?" /
O clustered. At the sight of Mr.. Raw
linson his legs and his voice abrupt
paused.
# a" want Ethel-not you. Send hi
% here"
He left the room at once. When
II next entered he was following Parth
f. MIA in a difident way.
With the paint and powderremovet
ii she was still q handsome woman
,e thirty, pale and thin, with great speal
e. ing eyes which at oncemade meunde
t. stand the chief charm of her st a.
presence.
l. She saw Mr.. Rawlinson; she ga,
a cry and started toward him wit
y open arms.
>r 80, father!"
"Wait!"
H. "He stood with his arms folded. 81
d paused. He spoke very gently bl
n firmly, as / had never heard hi
IS speak.
II want to takeyou back, my chill
t. my heart is hungry for you. But ye
must leave this worthless creatul
/. Will your"
She looked from father to husban
The struggle was fierce but brief. S
went to Blake as he leaned again
ne the wall and clasped her hands on
shoulder.
IN "He is my husband" she simp
en- said.
It "Strike the old man for money!
plainly heard from him, in q sep,
a chral whisper.
de John Rawlinson groaned as he II
to the room and the house, looki
OF neither to the right nor left. folio
ed him in silence. AS he strobe c
and as l bestirred myself TO overta
q. him, a shout followed us. l look
ut back and saw Edward Blake lurchi
heavily along.
n, Cant you do something for a
q. low, Mr.. Rawls?" he hiccought
b. "Say a ffty-or-or-"
lis Something like al oath came frc
I'd the man addressed, as he disappear